Illuminating the Invisible

Ralph Ellison, the author behind the famous book, ​Invisible Man,​talks about this idea of

“invisibility.” Throughout the book it is revealed that invisibility is not the actual physical

definition of not being able to be seen, but one on a metaphysical level. On this plain-field

introduced by Ellison he depicts the life of a man who is not seen for his actual self, the invisible

man, a man who resides in Harlem. He is constantly stereotyped throughout the novel for being

an African American. Invisibility is when a person is not seen for their individual values and

personal characteristics, rather they are classified by a racial social structure. However, one does

no t remain invisible forever, one can escape the room that is not being able to be seen for an

individual through action of resistance. That is how one becomes visible. Many people across the

globe stand out in their set groups of race by advocating and being a humanitarian against racism

as that is the main threat and cause of people being invisible. Standing up against such

discriminatory acts will diminish your invisibility.

In the prologue of the book, the narrator introduces himself as the “invisible man.” The

invisible man explains an event where he accidentally comes into contact with a blonde, tall,

blue-eyed, white man. The white man then curses him out and the invisible man demands an

apology. After this the narrator attacks the blue eyed man continuously while the white man still

does not stop with his insults. During this brawl of fisticuffs the invisible man has a realization,

“And in my outrage I got out my knife and prepared to slit his throat...when it occurred to me

that the man had not ​seen​ me; that he, as far as he knew, was in the midst of a walking

nightmare.” (Ellisson 4). This showed how the narrator realizes how blind to the truth the Aryan
man is. He only saw the invisible man for his skin and not his true self. For he does not know the

invisible man and classifies him under all the stereotypes and propaganda.

Halfway into the book the narrator falls victim to the never ending grasp of racism. The

invisible man is hospitalized and is unable to remember or figure out why he is there. He suffers

from amnesia and an inability to speak. The doctors were very impatient with the invisible man

since they could acquire no information who he was, but not just that, they were also very

discriminatory towards him. While they give the invisible man shock therapy he begins to have

spasms, while this occurs the doctors begin with their racist remarks: “Look, he’s dancing...They

really do have rhythm don’t they? Get hot, boy! Get hot.” (Ellison 237). Even while the narrator

is unable to defend himself they still kick him while he is at a weak point. Since they knew

nothing regarding the invisible man, his background or what he does, they simply made

stereotypical comments about him.

Towards the end of the book the narrator is found strolling through the slums of Harlem

and runs into a friend, Tod Clifton. They knew each other when they were affiliated with the

Brotherhood, an organization advocating for people who suffer from oppression. The invisible

man sees Clifton playing with a Sambo doll. Sambo referring to a derogatory statement that goes

back to the ages of slavery, which was used to describe loyal, but lazy and irresponsible slaves.

The narrator is fueled by anger at seeing Clifton with these dolls as they represent him

conforming to society and accepting invisibility. “I felt betrayed. I looked at the doll and felt my

throat constrict. The rage welled behind the phlegm as I rocked back on my heels and crouched

forward.” (Elisson 433). Conforming to the racial issues in society brings more harm than

necessary. This angers the invisible man because he knew Clifton to be the Youth Leader in
Harlem, who was dedicated to unlocking and harnessing the potential of other youths in his

community. Clifton was visible by being an upstander and an advocating person who was

opposing the stereotypes and racism in his community. This explains why he was so angry with

Clifton’s actions and how absurd and baffling they were to the invisible man.

In our society currently many are withheld in the metaphysical prison that is invisibility.

All racial groups oppress each other with never ending stereotypes. Whites are mostly to blame

for these sorts of issues, but to say that invisibility lives in everyone except whites, would infer

that I am not able to see the invisible, unable to see the truth and conforming to the ideologies of

society. The problem with conforming is that while trying to change the whole establishment of

racism, it will not be you who changes it, but the establishment that will eventually change you.

As you can see with all the problems the invisible man faces in the novel racism is omnipresent

and becoming visible takes courage and action. From standing up to the racist remarks of people

to educating those who are unable to see behind the facade that is stereotypes and structured

racism in the country.